You may have found the amount of tax on the $25 item ($0.75) and then added that to $60. Because this is a direct variation problem, use the equation $\displaystyle{y}={k}{x}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ , where y is the total cost and x is the item's price. Substitute $\displaystyle{y}={25.75}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ and $\displaystyle{x}={25}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ : $\displaystyle{25.75}={k}{\left({25}\right)}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ . Solve for k. Then use this value of k and $\displaystyle{x}={60}\usepackage{cmbright}\Huge\$ in a new direct variation equation, and solve for y.